Tom has represented closely-held businesses, public companies and private equity funds, borrowers and lenders in a wide array of industries, including industrial services, manufacturing and distribution, textiles, business services, health care, professional services (including architecture, accounting, engineering and veterinarian), financial services and asset management, restaurant and retail, nonprofits, sports law and craft breweries. He relies on his experience in mergers and acquisitions, commercial real estate and tax law to represent investors in low income housing tax projects throughout the country. Tom frequently acts as outside general counsel to businesses, providing advice to clients on various issues such as non-compete agreements, real estate leases, drafting and negotiating commercial contracts, shareholder disputes, fiduciary duties of directors and drafting or responding to demand letters.

Professional Background and Education.

Prior to founding Alexander Ricks PLLC, Tom was a member of the Corporate & Securities practice at an AmLaw 100 international law firm, where he served on the firm’s Pro Bono Committee. Tom graduated from Wake Forest School of Law in 2002, magna cum laude. At Wake Law, Tom served as an Executive Editor of the Wake Forest Law Review, received the John Thomas Bynum Scholarship and was inducted into the Order of the Coif. Tom graduated from Wake Forest University in 1996 with a B.S. in biology, and was a walk-on member of the 1992-93 Wake Forest Men’s Basketball Team. He also attended the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics in Durham, North Carolina, for his junior and senior years in high school.

Tom was born in Wilson, North Carolina and first moved to Charlotte in 1996. He enjoys spending time at Lake James, coaching basketball, offshore fishing, water skiing and recently ran his seventh marathon. Tom is married and has two sons, ages 11 and 8.

Recent Engagements. Tom’s recent matters include:

Mergers and Acquisitions:

$19,000,000 acquisition of bottling company.

$3,000,000 acquisition of sign manufacturer.

$32,000,000 sale of manufacturing and distribution business to a public company.

$3,000,000 spin-off of confectioner manufacturer and distributor.

$5,000,000 sale of retail furniture stores.

$6,000,000 acquisition by a metal fabrication business of manufacturing facilities from a public company.

$3,000,000 acquisition by a bioplastics company of a division from a public company.

$40,000,000 sale of CLO manager to public company.

$1,800,000 acquisition of an industrial services business in Norfolk, Virginia.

$11,000,000 sale of textile business to a private equity backed strategic buyer.

$10,000,000 sale of stock of a machine tool machinery manufacturer and dealer to a Chinese investor.

$10,000,000 sale of a plant nursery to a private equity backed strategic buyer.

$6,000,000 sale of specialty retailer.

Represented a national architecture firm in the acquisition of architecture and engineering firms in Charlotte and Charleston, SC.

Represented the seller of a live event production services business to a strategic buyer.

Represented a German investor in the acquisition of a food and drug regulatory advisory business.

Represented the purchaser of an animal hospital.

Commercial Real Estate:

Purchase of an industrial services facility in Norfolk, Virginia.

$3,500,000 sale of 150-acre farms in Union County and Anson County, North Carolina.

$25,000,000 sale of 560-unit apartment complex in Orlando, Florida.

The sale of general partnership interests in a 179-unit apartment complex in Clearwater, Florida.

The sale of general partnership interests in a 414-unit apartment complex in Suitland, Maryland.